Shelf-release vending apparatus



y 19, 1966 v F. c. DU GREINIER 3,261,499

SHELF-RELEASE VENDING APPARATUS iled Oct. 1.2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .w 32 in mm" w r INVENTOR.

July 19, 1966 F c. DU GRENIER SHELF-RELEASE VENDING APPARATUS Filed on. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR FHA/V675 C. DUGR IV/ER BY law/$2 1 United States Patent 3,261,499 SHELF-RELEASE VENDING APPARATUS Francis C. Du Grenier, North (Ionway, N.H., assignor to The Secburg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 403,150 11 Claims. (Cl. 221-48) This invention relates to a shelf-release vending apparatus and more particularly to a novel shelf-release storage magazine adapted to be used in such apparatus.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises a storage arrangement for articles retained in coin-operated vending machines and the like, in which a plurality of individual storage sections are provided, each section having a series of shelves arranged in a vertical column. The shelves are pivoted at one side so as to be movable from an article-retaining position (generally horizontal) to an article-dispensing position (generally vertical). The shelves are normally held in the article-retaining position by a series of latches, one for each shelf. An operating channel is provided, and the said channel actuates the latches in ascending succession, thereby releasing the shelves in like ascending succession.

While various arrangements are known to the art providing a coin-operated vending machine with a shelfreleasing mechanism, the mechanism herein described represents a substantial improvement over arrangements heretofore known. Specifically, the use of the latching arrangement herein disclosed provides a mechanism comprising a minimum number of parts, thus adding to the ease, reliability, and simplicity of its operation and construction. A unique feature of the latches utilized in the present invention resides in their bifunctional nature, each latch being adapted to releasably retain its associated shelf and also being adapted to sequentially trigger the nextabove one of the latches to release its shelf. Such a latching mechanism is combined with an operating channel that transmits the force necessary to trip the latch associated with the bottommost shelf that is in article-retaining position. This combination obviates the need for the transmittal of such force through a continuous build-up of broken links (in the form of previously released latches) and thus constitutes a marked improvement over the releasing mechanisms utilized in prior art devices, such as the devices disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,884,163, issued to F. C. Du Grenier et al., and in US. Patent No. 3,126,- 124, issued to P. Katz et al.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved storage magazines for use in coin-operated vending machines and the like, the said storage magazines comprising a plurality of storage elements, each characterized by a series of shelves arranged in a vertical column and each shelf being pivoted at one side and held in an article-retaining horizontal position by a releasable latch, and unitary channel means by which the shelves may be released to an article-dispensing substantially vertical position in ascending succession.

It is another object of the present invention to provide simple and reliable mechanical means for successively releasing the shelves in a storage magazine of the character described in which the shelves are quickly and easily returnable to the article-retaining position from the articledispensing position without danger of jamming or of breaking component parts of the storage magazine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage magazine of the character described which is in- Patented July 19, 1966 expensive to construct, easy to operate, and which comprises a minimum number of parts.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front view of an individual storage element produced in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary rear view thereof, with certain parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a right side view of the bottom portion thereof, with certain parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary rear view thereof, with shelves being shown both in article-retaining and in article-dispensing positions;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary rear view thereof, with all shelves being shown in article-dispensing positions; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial left side view thereof, with shelves being shown both in article-retaining and in article-dispensing positions.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows an individual magazine storage element 10 mounted on a base 11. The element 10 is affixed to the base 11 by means of brackets 59 and 60. Normally, the element 10 is mounted in a coin-operated vending machine side-byside in a series with other like elements to define a storage magazine. Magazine element 10 comprises a side wall 12 (having a perpendicularly extending flange 14 formed along the front edge thereof) and a perpendicularly extending rear wall 13 that is parallelly aligned with flange 14. Preferably, side wall 12, flange 14, and rear wall 13 are formed from a single piece of suitable material, such as sheet metal, so as to form a unitary frame member.

A plurality of holes 15 are formed in flange 14, and a corresponding plurality of aligned holes 15' are concentrically formed in rear wall 13. A series of shafts 16 pass through aligned holes 15 and 15' and are rotatably journaled thereby. Preferably, each shaft 16 has an offset center portion 61 (see especially FIGURE 3). A plurality of shelves 17 is provided, each of said shelves having two pairs of ears 62 stamped therein (see FIGURES 3 and 4). Each of the shelves 17 is aflixed at one side to one of the shafts 16, with ears 62 being crimped to the shaft 16 and the offset center portion 61 thereof so that shelf 17 may pivot about an axis passing through holes 15 and 15'.

A locking projection 18 extends from the rearward end of each of the shafts 16 behind rear wall 13. Preferably, projections 18 are substantially perpendicular to the axes passing through holes 15 and 15' and are formed integrally with shafts 16. A mounting channel 19 is rigidly attached to the back side of rear wall 13, and a flange 20 is formed on channel 19 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of rear wall 13. An operating channel 21 is attached to flange 20 by means of pins 63 and 64 and respective retaining clips 65 and 66, and pins 63 and 64 pass respectively through a pair of slots 67 and 68 formed in operating channel 21, so that channel 21 is slidable upwardly and downwardly as limited by the ends of slots 67 and 68.

In the described embodiment, vertical movement is imparted to operating channel 21 in the following man ner. As best seen in FIGURE 3, an operating arm 22, having a slot 23 in one end thereof, is pivoted to side wall 12 by means of a pin 24 (which passes through slot 23) and a retaining clip 25. Operating arm 22 passes through an opening 26 in flange 14 (see FIGURE 1), and lateral movement of operating arm 22 is limited by the ends of slot 23. A spring 26A interconnects operating arm 22 and side wall 12 so as to normally urge operating arm 22 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. A slot 27 is formed in operating arm 22, and slot 27 is provided with a shoulder 28 deforming its otherwise substantially rectangular configuration. A connecting arm 29 is pivoted to side wall 12 about a pin 30 and is held thereon by a retaining clip 31. An integral tab 32 (which is preferably welded to arm 29) extends downwardly there-from and is provided with a perpendicularly extending lip 28' (shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3) that extends into slot 27 of operating arm 22.

When operating arm 22 is disposed in its FIGURE 3 disposition, tab 32 is adapted to engage shoulder 28 (via lip 28") so that clockwise pivotal movement of arm 22 about pin 24 causes tab 32 to be pushed upwardly by shoulder 28, thereby pivoting connecting arm 29 counterclockwise about pin 30. Connecting arm 29 terminates in a projection 33 which passes through an opening 34 in rear wall 13 (see FIGURES 2, 3, and 5). A bracket 35 (see FIGURE 5) is rig-idly aflixed to operating channel 21, as by screws 36, and is provided with an opening 37, through which projection 33 passes. When connecting arm 29 pivots upwardly about pin 30, as previously described, projection 33 imparts upward movement to bracket 35, thereby causing operating channel 21 to move in an upward direction.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that movement of operating arm 22 can be controlled by a coinoperated mechanism (not shown) of any suitable type, such as a conventional selector plunger arrangement that operates by means of a rack and pinion drive. Normally, the coin-operated mechanism will cause operating arm 22 to be positioned to the left (relative to its FIGURE 4 disposition) against the force of spring 26A, so as to clear lip 28' from shoulder 28. In this position, movement of operating arm 22 will have no effect on connect-ing arm 29 and thus on operating channel 21. However, suitable coin deposit will serve to release arm 22 to its FIGURE 4 disposition, so that customer induced selection will crank arm 22 first upwardly and then downwardly (as in FIGURE 4), thereby to cause operating channel 21 to reciprocate first upwardly and then downwardly once per selection.

Although the above-described mechanism is a preferred means for imparting vertical movement to operating channel 21, many other suitable arrangements for moving operating channel 21 vertically may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.

A plurality of latches 38, one for each shelf 17, is rotatably journalled in spaced alignment on rear wall 13 by pins 40 (which pass through slots 39 in latches 38, see FIGURE 2) and retaining clips 41. Latches 38 are thus mounted on Wall 13 for rotational and for linear movement. Latches 38 have formed thereon perpendicularly extending vertical shelf-retaining flanges 42, horizontal actuating flanges 43, and inclined re-set flanges 58. A plurality of slots 44, one for each latch 38, is provided in operating channel 21, and actuating shoulders 45 extend into and deform the otherwise substantially rectangular configuration of slots 44, so as to define slot extensions 44', as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5. It should be noted that the lowermost slot extension 44 is plugged by an actuating insert 44" (see FIGURE 5), for a purpose hereinafter described.

A projecting arm 46 is provided on each latch 38, and each projecting arm 46 passes through a corresponding slot 44 in operating channel 21. Each latch 38 is adapted to rotate about its respective pin 40, and the extent of such rotational movement is limited by the sides of slot 44 against which projecting arm 46 abuts. Similarly, vertical movement of each latch 38 is limited by the upper and lower ends of slot 39. A plurality of springs 47 is attached to the horizontal flange 43. of each latch 38 and to the pin 40 of the latch 38 immediately below. In the case of the bottommost latch 38, a mounting pin 40' (see FIGURE 2) is provided to anchor the bottommost spring 47. Each spring 47 is hooked to a horizontal flange 43 so as to bias the corresponding latch 38 for rotation in a clockwise direction and for movement downwardly toward its lowered posit-ion (relative to the FIG- URE 2 disposition).

When a latch 38 is in its lowered position (as shown in FIGURE 2), projection 18 on the corresponding shaft 16 is engageable with vertical flange 42 of latch 38. Thus, shaft 16 is prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction (relative to its FIGURE 2 disposition), thereby maintaining shelf 17 in a substantially horizontal article-retaining position. When, however, a given latch 38 is lifted to its raised position (by appropriate upward movement of operating channel 21, as hereinafter described), the corresponding projection 18 is disengaged from the corresponding vertical flange 42 of the given latch 38, and thus the corresponding shelf 17 pivots downwardly under the influence of gravity. When the corresponding projection 18 is disengaged from the corresponding vertical flange 42, the corresponding spring 47 causes the given latch 38 to rotate in a clockwise direct-ion (from a latching to a releasing position) until the projecting arm 46 thereof engages the corresponding shoulder 45 of slot 44. When the projecting arm 46 is thus engaged with the corresponding shoulder 45 (see FIGURE 4), the said arm 46 is positioned to engage the horizontal flange 43 of the next latch 38 immediately above the given latch 38. When operating channel 21 is then moved upwardly, the said next latch 38 immediately above is moved to its raised position, and, as previously described, the corresponding projection 18 is disengaged from the corresponding vertical flange 42, so as to allow the corresponding shelf 17 to pivot downwardly to its article-dispensing position.

Thus, the sequential operation of the releasing mechanism is as follows. When all shelves 17 are latched, as in FIGURE 2, the projecting arm 46 on the bottommost latch 38 is positioned for engagement with the plug insert 44" of the bottommost slot 44. When operating channel 21 is raised, the said plug insert 44" pushes upwardly against the projecting arm 46 of the bottommost latch 38, thereby moving the said latch to its raised position. All of the latches 38 above the bottommost latch are not affected by this first initial upward movement of operating channel 21 since project-ing arms 46 thereof are aligned with corresponding slot extensions 44 and thus do not engage corresponding shoulders 45. When the bottommost latch 38 is moved to its raised position, projection 18 on the bottommost shaft 16 is disengaged from the vertical flange 42 on the bottommost latch 38. Gravity causes the bottommost shelf 17 to pivot to its generally vertical article-dispensing position. As operating channel 21 is then returned to its lowered position, the spring 47 associated with the bottommost latch 38 causes the said latch to return to its lowered position and at the same time to rotate in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 5). As the bottommost latch 38 rotates in this clockwise direction, projecting arm 46 thereof engages the bottommost shoulder 45 and is thus positioned to engage the horizontal flange 43 on the second latch 38 from the bottom. When operating channel 21 is again raised, the second latch 38 is moved to its raised position by the projecting arm 46 of the bottorrrmost latch 38, thereby permitting the corresponding second shelf 17 to pivot to its article-dispensing position. As the second latch 38 is returned to its lowered position upon return downward movement of operating channel 21, it rotates in a clockwise direction and the projecting arm 46 thereof engages the corresponding shoulder 45 and is thus positioned to engage the horizontal flange 43 011 the third latch from the bottom. Continuing reciprocal movement of operating channel 21 can thus serve to successively release the shelves 17 to their respective article-dispensing positions. After the topmost shelf is released, operating channel 21 is locked in position to indicate an empty status, in a manner hereinafter described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the successive shelf-releasing operation is predicated upon the concomitant upward movement of operating channel 21 with a given latch 38 so as to clear the corresponding projection 18, whereby its corresponding shelf 17 may -be gravity biased to its generally vertical article-dispensing position. As the said given latch 38 clears from engagement with its corresponding projection 18, the corresponding spring 47 effects rotation of the said given latch '38 so as to condition it for concomitant upward movement upon the next actuation of operating channel 21, whereby the next-above latch 38 is also conditioned for concomitant upward movement, and so forth. It will be observed that the foregoing arrangement transmits a pushing force from operating anm 22 through operating channel 21 and through an appropriately positioned projecting arm 46 (-of a given latch 38) to only one given next-above latch 68 at a time (that is, to only the latch 38 to be released, even though all previously released latches 38 are harmlessly elevated upon each actuation of operating channel 21). This arrangement should be contrasted with prior art systems that require the transmission of the pushing force through a continuously builtup link fonmed of all previously released latches, as well as the latch to be release-d.

FIGURES 2 and 5 illustrate means for locking operating channel 21 when the topmost shelf 17 in the column has been moved to its article-dispensing position, so as to prevent futile efforts to obtain merchandise from the empty element 10. A bracket 48 is rigidly attached to operating channel 21, as by screws 49, and bracket 48 is cut away to form a recess 50 and a corresponding shoulder 50. Operating channel 21 and bracket 48 are shown in FIGURE 5 but have been removed from FIGURE 2 for clarity. A U-shaped bar 51, having side extensions 52 and 56, is pivotally attached to mounting channel 19 by suitable means, such as a nut 53 and a bolt '54 (see FIGURE 5). A projecting pin 55 passes through side extension 52 and acts as a guide so that bar 51 is adapted to pivot between the extreme positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. Also, side extension 52 is provided with a shoulder 52 that engages shoulder 50' of bracket 48 when bar 51 is in its FIGURE 5 position and that is received within recess 50 of bracket 48 when bar 51 is in its FIGURE 2 position.

When the topmost shelf 17 is in its article-retaining position, projection 18 of the topmost shaft 16 is positioned between vertical flange 42 on the topmost latch 38 and extension 56 of bar 51 and thus serves to preclude movement of bar 51. Bar 51 is thereby held away from mounting channel 19 (as in FIGURE 2), and shoulder '52 of side extension 52 is aligned with recess 50 of bracket 48. In this position operating channel 21 is vertically movable. When, however, the topmost shelf 17 is in its article-dispensing position (as shown in FIGURE 5), bar 51 is no longer impeded by the topmost projection 18 and is thus pulled toward mounting channel 19 by a spring 57, which is affixed between a pin 69 on bar 51 and a bracket 70 on mounting channel 19. When bar 51 is thus moved, side extension 52 thereof fits flush against mounting channel 19. In this position, shoulder 52' of side extension 52 is not aligned with recess 50, and instead the said shoulder 52' abuts against shoulder 50' of bracket 48, so as to prevent channel 21 from moving downwardly.

One of the many advantages of the present invention is the ease with which the magazine element can be reloaded. The re-set flanges 58 on latches 38 are positioned so that when a shelf 17 is manually raised from article-dispensing to article-retaining position, the projection 18 on the corresponding shaft 16 engages the corresponding re-set flange '58 and thus raises the latch 38. When the shelf 17 is manually raised so that the projection 18 moves in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 4) past vertical flange 42, latch 38 returns to its lowered position under the influence of the associated spring 47. When the shelf 17 is then allowed to fall downwardly, projection 18 re-engages flange 42, thereby locking the shelf 17 in its article-retaining position.

It should be noted that a given latch 38 is cocked into latching position as soon as the corresponding shelf 17 is horizontally disposed (that is, as soon as projection 18 clears re-set flange 58 and is positioned adjacent vertical flange 42). That is, over-positioning of the shelf 17 past its horizontal position, even through an arc of substantially degrees (that is, clockwise to the vertical position for the upper shelf 17 shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4), is possible without danger of jamming or breaking the latches 38. Indeed, the re-setting of the shelves 17 may "be readily accomplished by rippling ones hand across the edges of the shelves 17 so as to successively flick the shelves 17 upwardly in a rapid manner. Even though some or all of the shelves 17 may thus pass through the horizontal article-retaining position, each of the said shelves will automatically fall back to rest in the desired article-retaining position.

When the topmost shelf 17 is raised to article-retaining position, the corresponding projection 18 engages side extension 56 of bar 51 and thus causes side extension 52 of bar 51 to move away from mounting channel 19 against the force of spring 57. Shoulder 52 of side extension 52 is then positioned in alignment with recess 50 of bracket 48, and operating channel 21 returns to its lowered position under the influence of gravity.

While the drawings illustrate only a single magazine element 10, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that substantially any number of similar elements may be combined (with side walls 12 in parallel alignment and rear walls 13 in planar alignment) in order to provide a storage magazine of greater capacity.

Modifications and variations of the particular arrangement described herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated herein. It should further be understood that various changes, modifications, and alterations may be effected in the parts and elements of the described embodiment Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine storage element comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of shaft members, each being horizontally disposed one above the other on the frame member and each being journaled in the frame member for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

locking means on each shaft member;

a plurality of shelf members, one for each shaft member, disposed one above the other in a column, each shelf member being fixed to a corresponding one of the shaft members, whereby each shelf member is pivotable with its corresponding shaft member;

an operating member, vertically slidable on the frame member for movement between a first position and a second position;

a plurality of latch members, one for each shelf member, each latch member being rotatably mounted on the frame member between a first rotational latching position and a second rotational releasing position, and each latch member being slidably mounted on the frame member between a first linear position and a second linear position;

a plurality of actuating means on the operating member, one for each latch member, said actuating means 7 each being adapted to impart linear movement to a corresponding latch member from its first to its second linear position only when the said corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

means on the operating member for imparting linear movement to the bottommost latch member from its first to its second linear position whenever the bottommost latch member is disposed in its first rotational position;

a plurality of projecting means, one on each of the latch members, each said projecting means being adapted to engage the corresponding actuating means on the operating member and being simultaneously adapted to engage the next-above latch member so as thereby to render the next-above latch member slidable with the operating member only when the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a plurality of shelf-retaining means, one on each of the latch members, each said shelf-retaining means being engageable with the locking means on the corresponding one of the shaft members only when the corresponding latch member is in its first linear position;

biasing means normally urging each latch member toward its second rotational position and toward its first linear position; and

means for reciprocally sliding the operating member between its first and second positions;

whereby each of the shelf members may be pivoted to article-dispensing position in ascending succession.

2. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

means preventing movement of the operating member when the topmost of the shelf members is in its article-dispensing position.

3. A magazine storage element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the shelf members is pivotable through an arc of substantially 180 degrees.

4. A magazine storage element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means on each shaft member comprises a projection extending therefrom.

5. A magazine storage element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a plurality of springs, one for each latch member, mounted between the frame member and the corresponding latch member.

6. A magazine storage element comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of shaft members, each being horizontally disposed one above the other on the frame member and each being journaled in the frame member for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

locking means on each shaft member;

a plurality of shelf members, one for each shaft member, disposed one above the other in a column, each shelf member being fixed to a corresponding one of the shaft members, whereby each shelf member is pivotable with its corresponding shaft member;

a plurality of latch members, one for each shelf member, each latch member being rotatably mounted on the frame member between a first rotational latching position and a second rotational releasing position, and each latch member being slidably mounted on the frame member between a first linear position and a second linear position;

an operating member slidably mounted on the frame member for vertical movement between a first position and a second position and having a plurality of slots, one for each latch member, formed one above the other in the operating member, each slot having a shoulder formed therein thereby defining a slot extension, and each shoulder being adapted to impart linear movement to a corresponding latch member from its first to its second linear position only when the said corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a plurality of projecting means, one on each of the latch members, each projecting means being adapted to engage the corresponding shoulder on the operating member and being simultaneously adapted to engage the next-above latch member whenever the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position, and each said projecting means being adapted to be received in the corresponding slot extension upon reciprocal movement of the operating member whenever the corresponding latch member is disposed in its first rotational position, whereby the next-above latch member is rendered slidable with the operating member only when the latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

means blocking the slot extension of the bottommost slot whereby the bottommost latch member is slidable from its first to its second linear position with the operating member whenever the bottommost latch member is disposed in its first rotational position;

a plurality of shelf-retaining means, one on each of the latch members, each said shelf-retaining means being engageable with the locking means on the corresponding one of the shaft members only when the corresponding latch member is in its first linear position;

biasing means normally urging each latch member toward its first linear position and toward its second rotational position; and 7 means for reciprocally sliding the operating member between its first andits second positions;

whereby the shelf members may be pivoted to articledispensing position in ascending succession.

7. In a coin-operated vending machine, a storage magazine comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of parallelly spaced, vertically extending partition members;

a plurality of shaft members, disposed, one above the other, in columns adjacent the partition members, each shaft member being journalled in the frame member for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

locking means on each shaft member;

a plurality of shelf members, one for each shaft member, disposed one above the other in columns, each self member being fixed to a corresponding one of the shaft member, whereby each shelf member is pivotable with its corresponding shaft member;

a plurality of reciprocal operating members, one for each column of shelf members, each operating member being vertically slidable on the frame member for movement bet-ween a first position and a second position;

a plurality of latch members, one for each shelf member, each latch member being rotatably mounted on the frame member between a first rotational latching position and a second rotational releasing position, and each latch member being slidably mounted on the frame member between a first linear position and a second linear position;

a plurality of actuating means on the operating members, one for each latch member, said actuating means each being adapted to impart linear movement to a corresponding latch member from its first to its second linear position only when the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

means on each of the operating members for imparting linear movement to the corresponding bottommost latch member from its first to its second linear position whenever the corresponding bottommost latch member is disposed in its first rotational position;

a plurality of projecting means, one for each of the latch members, each said projecting means being adapted to engage the corresponding actuating means on the corresponding operating member and being simultaneously adapted to engage the next-above latch member so as thereby to render the next-above latch member slidable with the corresponding operating member only when the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a plurality of shelf-retaining means, one on each of the latch members, each said shelf-retaining means being engageable with the locking means on the corresponding one of the shaft members only when the corresponding latch member is in its first linear position;

biasing means normally urging each latch member to- Ward its first linear position and toward its second rotational position; and

means for reciprocally sliding the operating member between its first and its second positions,

whereby each of the shelf members may be pivoted to article-dispensing position in ascending succession.

8. A storage magazine, as claimed in claim 7, and

further comprising:

a plurality of means, one for each operating member,

each of the means being adapted to prevent movement of the corresponding operating member only when the topmost shelf of the column associated with the said corresponding operating member is in its article-dispensing position.

9. A magazine storage element comprising:

vertical side wall;

vertical rear wall substantially perpendicular to the plane of the side wall;

a plurality of substantially horizontal, rearwardly extending shafts disposed one above the other adjacent the side wall, each of the shafts being journaled adjacent the side wall for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

a projection extending from the rearward end of each shaft, each projection being substantially perpendicular to the axis of its shaft;

a plurality of shelves, one for each shaft, disposed one above the other in a column, each shelf being fixed at one side to one of the shafts, whereby each shelf is pivotable with a shaft;

plurality of latch members, one for each shelf, each latch member being rotatably mounted on the rear wall between a first rotational latching position and a second rotational releasing position, and each latch member being slidably mounted on the rear wall between a lowered position and a raised position;

an operating member mounted on the rear wall for vertical movement between a lowered position and a raised position and having a plurality of slots, one for each latch member, formed one above the other in the operating member, each slot having a shoulder formed therein thereby defining a slot extension,'and each shoulder being adapted to impart linear movement to a corresponding latch member from its lowered to its raised position only when the saidcorresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a plurality of projecting arms, one on each of the latch members, each projecting arm being adapted to engage the corresponding shoulder on the operating member and being simultaneously adapted to engage the next-above latch member whenever the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position, and each said projecting arm being adapted to be received in the corresponding slot extension upon upward movement of the operating member whenever the corresponding latch is disposed in its first rotational position whereby the next-above latch member is rendered slidable with the operating member only when the latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

an insertion member for plugging the slot extension of the bottommost slot whereby the bottommost latch member is slidable from its lowered to its raised position with the operating member whenever the bottommost latch member is disposed in its first rotational position;

an actuating flange on the lower edge of each latch member, each actuating flange being engageable by the projecting arm on the next-below latch member only when the next-below latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a shelf-retaining flange on each latch member, each shelf-retaining flange being engageable with the projection on the corresponding one of the shafts only when the corresponding latch member is in its lowered position, whereby the corresponding shelf may be normally maintained in an article-retaining position, and the said shelf-retaining flange being disengageable from the said projection whenever the said latch member is in its raised position;

a plurality of springs, one for each latch member, each spring normally urging its corresponding latch member toward its lowered position and toward its second rotational position; and

means for reciprocally sliding the operating member between its lowered and its raised positions,

whereby each of the shelf members may be pivoted to article-dispensing position in ascending succession.

10. A magazine storage element, as claimed in claim 9,

and further comprising:

means for locking the operating member in its raised position when the topmost shelf is in its articledispensing position.

11. A magazine storage element comprising:

a frame member;

a plurality of shelf members disposed one above the other in a column;

means mounting each shelf member for pivotal movement with respect to the frame member;

locking means for each shelf member; I

an operating member vertically slidable on the frame member for movement between a first position and a second position;

a plurality of latch members, one for each shelf member, each latch member being rotatably mounted on the frame member between a first rotational latching position and a second rotational releasing position, and each latch member being slidably mounted on the frame member between a first linear position and a second linear position;

a plurality of actuating means on the operating member, one for each latch member, said actuating means each being adapted to impart linear move-ment to a corresponding latch member from its first to its second linear position only when the said corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

means on the operating member for imparting linear movement to the bottommost latch member from its first to its second linear position whenever the bottommost latch member is disposed in its first rotational position;

a plurality of projecting means, one on each of the latch members, each said projecting means being adapted to engage the corresponding actuating means on the operating member and being simultaneously adapted to engage the next-above latch member so as thereby to render the next-above latch member slidable with the operating member only when the corresponding latch member is disposed in its second rotational position;

a plurality of shelf-retaining means, one on each of the latch members, each said shelf-retaining means being engagea'ble with the corresponding locking means only when the corresponding latch member is in its first linear position;

biasing means normally urging each latch member toward its second rotational position and toward its first linear position; and

means for reciprocally sliding the operating member between its first and second positions,

whereby each of the shelf members may be pivoted to article-dispensing position in ascending succession.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Settecasi 221-90 Lux 22190 Holstein 221-90 Stayton 22190 Weber 221-90 Katz et al. 2'2l-90 10 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

W. SOBIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MAGAZINE STORAGE ELEMENT COMPRISING: A FRAME MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF SHAFT MEMBERS EACH BEING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ON THE FRAME MEMBER AND EACH BEING JOURNALED IN THE FRAME MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS; LOCKING MEANS ON EACH SHAFT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF SHELF MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH SHAFT MEMBER, DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER IN A COLUMN, EACH SHELF MEMBER BEING FIXED TO A CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE SHAFT MEMBERS, WHEREBY EACH SHELF MEMBER IS PIVOTABLE WITH ITS CORRESPONDING SHAFT MEMBER; AN OPERATING MEMBER, VERTICALLY SLIDABLE ON THE FRAME MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION AND A SECOND POSITION; A PLURALITY OF LATCH MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH SHELF MEMBER, EACH LATCH MEMBER BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN A FIRST ROTATIONAL LATCHING POSITION AND A SECOND ROTATIONAL RELEASING POSITION, AND EACH LATCH MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN A FIRST LINEAR POSITION AND A SECOND LINEAR POSITION; A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING MEANS ON THE OPERATING MEMBER, ONE FOR EACH LATCH MEMBER, SAID ACTUATING MEANS EACH BEING ADAPTED TO IMPART LINEAR MOVEMENT TO A CORRESPONDING LATCH MEMBER FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND LINEAR POSITION ONLY WHEN SIAD CORRESPONDING LATCH MEMBER IS DISPOSED IN ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION; MEANS ON THE OPERATING MEMBER FOR IMPARTING LINEAR MOVEMENT TO THE BOTTOMMOST LATCH MEMBER FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND LINEAR POSITION WHENEVER THE BOTTOMMOST LATCH MEMBER IS DISPOSED IN ITS FIRST ROTATIONAL POSITION; A PLURALITY OF PROJECTING MEANS, ONE ON EACH OF THE LATCH MEMBERS, EACH SAID PROJECTING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE CORRESPONDING ACTUATING MEANS ON THE OPERATING MEMBER AND BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE NEXT-ABOVE LATCH MEMBER SO AS THEREBY TO RENDER THE NEXT-ABOVE LATCH MEMBER SLIDABLE WITH THE OPERATING MEMBER ONLY WHEN THE CORRESPONDING LATCH MEMBER IS DISPOSED IN ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION; A PLURALITY OF SHELF-RETAINING MEANS, ONE ON EACH OF THE LATCH MEMBERS, EACH SAID SHELF-RETAINING MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOCKING MEANS ON THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE SHAFT MEMBERS ONLY WHEN THE CORRESPONDING LATCH MEMBER IS IN ITS FIRST LINEAR POSITION; BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING EACH LATCH MEMBER TOWARD ITS SECOND ROTATIONAL POSITION AND TOWARD ITS FIRST LINEAR POSITION; AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY SLIDING THE OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN ITS FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS; WHEREBY EACH OF THE SHELF MEMBERS MAY BE PIVOTED TO ARTICLE-DISPENSING POSITION ASCENDING SUCCESSION. 